On what date did the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffer the 22.6% “Black Monday” drop in 1987?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its 22.6% “Black Monday” drop on October 19, 1987.

The one-day percentage fall was the largest in the Dow’s history at the time and remains the benchmark statistic associated with the 1987 crash. Selling spread rapidly through international markets, following sharp declines in Hong Kong, Europe, and other financial centers.

The crash was intensified by computerized portfolio-insurance strategies, which automatically sold futures as prices fell. These systems were designed to limit losses, but their simultaneous activity added selling pressure. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission later examined market structure, trading systems, and the need for coordinated safeguards.

“Black Monday” can also refer to other market collapses, including October 28, 1929, so the year is essential. The 1987 event did not produce a depression comparable to the 1930s, and U.S. markets recovered much of the loss relatively quickly.